Ethical Considerations in Children Vaccination Advocacy Campaign

Introduction2

Role of Nursing2

Ethical Considerations3

Personal Autonomy and Choices3

Fear of Harm4

Vaccine Research and Testing4

Informed Consent4

Access Issues5

Resolution in Light of Theories & Regulations5

References7

Introduction

In order to give attention to child' health, we planned a health advocacy campaign which will work for protection of American children against infectious diseases like small pox, polio and measles (Nelson et al., n.d.). During the entire campaign, we will closely work with key decision makers in shaping children health policies. By spreading the awareness for prevention of diseases, we can maximize the services and eliminate health disparities. However many ethical dilemmas come forward when such advocacy campaign for immunization activation is run. In this paper, we will address what can be the possible ethical issues in light of past data and how to resolve these issues in benefit of all (Nelson et al., n.d.).

Role of Nursing

Nursing not only serve as advocates but also as a role model to parents during the treatment of children. Parents trust nurses to take care of their children. American Association of Nurses has formulated policies for immunization campaigns and the role of nurses in such campaigns (ANA, 2013). ANA believes in providing public immunization against vaccine preventable disease (VPD) and acknowledges the role of nursing in this cause. This campaign presents unique challenges of strategy formulation to provide optimal coverage and reduce risks associated with specific targeted population. Nurses according to ANA should participate fully in making such campaigns successful by promoting the immunization recommendations into the nursing practice (ANA, 2013).

Ethical Considerations

Vaccinations are one of greatest milestone of medical sciences. Yet many ethical considerations arise when vaccination advocacy campaigns are run for the general public. Vaccinations of children, though licensed, have been the topic of debate of many ethical issues. The issues of mandating the vaccination, process of testing of the drug, consent seeking and access disproportion are the most possible and crucial issues.

Personal Autonomy and Choices

During the campaign in discussion, distinctive differences can arise due to religious believes, fear of harm or unequal treatment to genders. The purpose of any campaign should be to produce benefits, avoid harms, produce maximum benefit and distribute it evenly, includes participation of affected. This all should happen by respecting the individual's choices, privacy and liberty of actions. (Childress et. al, 2002) But respect for autonomy and privacy can also limit the ethical values of the campaign. The immunization need can be ignored by many individuals if it leads in infringement of their autonomy or liberty. On the other hand, vaccination program is mostly declared as mandatory as it is believed to protect the whole society.

The vaccine can be interrelated to religious believes. For example, vaccine for the human papillomavirus is recommended for girls only within the age range of 11 - 12. It prevents sexually transmitted diseases. This vaccine is mandatory under certain state legislatures. Parents response to such vaccine was very negative on the believe that its spread the abstinence based message which can potentially force their daughters to undergo intervention ...